Score!

 First I want to make it clear that I am not bragging, I am celebrating!   

Ok, ok! To be honest there is a small part of me that has wanted to take a picture of groceries that I was able to procure at a fraction of the cost so that I could join the ranks of all you other "Nifty Thriftys"

Recently, I started couponing and playing the drug store "game" at CVS in an effort to save money.
I won't lie it is not for the faint of heart, but so far I think it has been worth the effort.
I am still a newbie and I am learning all kinds of things- but after a haul like today, I feel like the QUEEN of COUPONS!

(Which, if you followed me around the grocery store for very long you would come to find is a gross overstatement...)

All this you see... (right arm extended in a grand sweeping gesture)... was obtained for $5.13 at CVS this very day...(Head bowed in false humility.)

The best part is that it they are all things we use:

• 1 Body soap
• 5 Dish soaps
• 2 Toothpastes
• 1 Hair Gel
• 2 Boxes of Cheez-its
• 1 Tube of Tylenol Cream for sore joints
• 10 Packages of Baby Wipes (72 count each)
• 1 Pack of Hershey's Bliss Dark Chocolate - (Of course dark chocolate is a necessity!)

You may ask, "How?"

The answer: by using coupons and ECBs (Extra Care Bucks).
Check out this link for more information if you are interested!

Snotsucker Extraordinaire

So, Norah has been sick for about a week and a half. Started with the stuffy, snotty nose, and progressed into a full blown chest cold.

The doctor thought she might have pneumonia after hearing crackles in her lungs, but after a quick trip to the Children's Hospital for a chest x-ray, he gave us the good news that it was NOT pneumonia- just a big. bad. chest cold.

Not fun.

AS you may know, babies are obligate nose breathers.

That's just how they roll.

When their nose gets plugged up or goopy it makes them grumpy.

Eating slows.

Sleeping becomes difficult.

Life is generally more difficult.

I have a bulb syringe- actually two. One from the hospital and one I bought. 

They work in a pinch... but they aren't very powerful.

I hate using them because I have to keep assulting Norah's nose to get anything accomplished.

She hates it. She really does.

Poor sweet baby.

I am afraid that she is going to associate me with this terrible blue bulb syringe and grow up to hate me.

Recently I bought an ELECTRONIC nasal aspirator.

Yes. I. Splurged.

I was kind of desperate.

 It even plays a cool little jingle to distract the baby- which worked like a charm the first couple of times. However, after that it only served as a forewarning to Norah for what was about to happen and she had time to warm-up for the fit that was sure to ensue... crying, screaming, squirming, tossing her head, kicking her feet, and throwing punches... Lovely.

This device worked. Eventually.

The biggest problem with this battery operated gadget was that the suction was either lacking or too much.

Using per package directions didn't accomplish much, so in order to remedy the situation I would have to pinch one nostril while I suctioned the other because when all the air was directed through one nostril at a time, I could get greater suction power. TOO MUCH suction power.

Yikes.

Plus, this made it a TWO hand job.

Which means I had no hands left to hold the flailing baby down!

FAIL!

So, what is a desperate mother to do?

While commisserating about sick babies with Emily Leach last Sunday, she passivley mentioned that she owned this little snotsucking device that works great because the mother controls the amount of suction via her mouth...

Gross! Weird!

But remember-

I am desperate.

So when I got home I decided to do some googling...

And I eneded up purchasing one from Amazon.com.

I just got it today!

All ye mothers that have snot ridden babies, listen up!

Have I got a product for you...

BEHOLD! NoseFrida - THE Snotsucker.

http://www.nosefrida.com/index.html

It is really awesome. It works like nothing I have ever seen.

Before you run away from your computer to throw up in the bathroom, please read on!

None of the nose goop will get in your mouth- I promise!

There is a little hygiene filter that prevents mucus transfer from baby to you.

Yipee!

Also, the BEST part about this is that you never put anything inside the baby's nose, and you control the amount of suction you use! AMAZING.

Love it.

They should pay me for advertising...

Christmas 2008 Recap

We had a delightful Christmas holiday!
Mr. M. and I celebrated our third Christmas as a married couple on Christmas Eve.
This marked the start of our holiday festivities.

Scott and Ashley came to Cincinnati for Christmas- we had a lot of fun spending time with them!

Ice skating at fountain square...

...shopping...

...seeing the the lights of the city...and playing games!

We really had a fun and relaxing Christmas with Mr. M's side of the family.

Then, my side of the family gathered and we had another Christmas celebration!

Some snap shots of our gift exchange- we had some laughs...ahhh....good times!
Zach washing the dishes- it is never too early to start training future husbands...**wink**
The third picture is Zach giving himself a "round of applause" for a job well done

Jacob really got "into" the whole gift thing...

Uncle Kirk gave the boys a pair of his all time favorite footwear... Chuck Taylors!

Jacob will have to grow into his... Zach has a little wiggle room too, but he looked so cute wearing them!

Jonathan and his girlfriend Jennifer being creative in the kitchen.

Funny, but I don't think I've ever seen Jonathan so helpful and attentive in the kitchen before...hmmm?

Some more highlights of our time together- we had fun at the Creation museum, shopping, playing games, eating, and just being together.

Some of my favorites-

"...Say it with a Slip."

So, I was browsing the the ol' www the other day and I googled "modest clothing"-

I ran across a variety of Muslim sites.
The LDS Church (Mormon) had quite a few too.
The Orthodox Jews had a strong showing... and even those wonderful southern Baptists had a sight or two.

It was really interesting to see the variety of clothing options each site offered-
Each with their own perspective on modesty.

In my browsing I ran across this sight called

Vintage Hem.

I am kind of a fan of all things vintage so I click- clicked...an WaLaa!
I saved some images from their site to show you...is that stealing? I hope not.
This image below is their "header".

Kind of Anthropologiesque...don't you agree?
P.S. - Anthropologie is one of my very favorite stores- if only to browse...and wish.

I am NOT a huge fan of camouflage- but I use it just to give an example of what a "Vintage Hem" is...

...you get the idea.

Take a skirt that on its own may be a "hair" too short for comfort

(or for other peoples comfort), and add a Hemmed slip like below.

Now the skirt is wearable.

(Below)

The Decoy

This one (Below) is my personal favorite.

It is called Eyeful of Lace, distressed black

I also like this one... Have a Ball, Black... lovely!

Anyway, I encourage you to click on any of the pictures above and check the Vintage Hem out.
They have many other options.

Let's all do our part to stimulate this economy...
Happy shopping!